Working closely with the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools (VILS) coach, Teacher Olivia works hard to ensure that learning in her classroom is authentic and requires critical thinking. To do this she asks her Middle School Tech students to teach other students in the school about what they are learning in the tech class. She arranged for other classes to visit and explore the projects that her students plan and create.
Here, Teacher Olivia gives instructions to 1st grade students who are visiting her class. Her Middle School Tech Students will introduce these younger students to coding using hands on activities with Bee Bots.
Middle School students learn how to program the Bee Bots and then they create "Maps" or "Courses" that they use to teach the younger students how to program the Bee Bots. MS Students have to think about what would be developmentally appropriate for younger students when they prepare their lessons.
Middle School students also create flow charts that represent the programming that needs to happen in order for the younger students to successfully complete the course. Having to prepare presentations and teach what they've learned to other students, gives these middle school tech students a much deeper understanding of the content and ideas covered in Ms. Olivia's Tech class.
Many of the Middle school students decided to create stories about why the Bee Bots needed to get to their goal. These students also learned a little about pollination.
Another benefit of having tech students teach the younger ones is that these younger students are looking at these older tech students as leaders in the tech space. Young students see that older students, just like themselves, can become role models with technology - and have fun doing it!
Tech students learn project planning methods and implement/adapt those plans as they move through the project development stages.
Tech students use block coding for most of their projects.
Students here are building Sphero coding challenge courses.
Tech students learn how to teach students by asking questions and using encouraging words to help the young students to try again when things don't go just right. They know not to take control of the Bee Bot coding, letting students learn by doing and by asking questions.
Here is the beginner course, and introduction to coding with Bee Bots.
Here's Teacher Olivia's workshop with students working hard (and enjoying themselves) while they explore and prepare their Makey Makey projects.
Students use Makey Makey kits for a fun way to understand basic circuitry, sensors and coding. Once completed, another class visits the tech lab and the creators present their games, music/sound-effect makers and other creations - and they explain how they work and what they've learned.